13Jan13

UN Security Council to meet on Mali, France to use Algeria's airspace for
operation

The UN Security Council will hold a meeting Monday at France's request to
discuss the situation in Mali, while Paris got authorization to use Algeria's
airspace for its operation in the western African nation.

Brieuc Pont, a spokesman for France's UN mission, said the meeting,
scheduled for Monday afternoon, was a French initiative "to inform the council
and proceed with an exchange of views between members of the council and
with the UN secretariat."

Fighting raged in the past days after the Malian government and rebels failed
to reach any deal in talks on a solution to the country's crisis.

On Friday, Paris confirmed its military operations in Mali to back government
forces in fighting the advancing rebels, who had seized the central town of
Konna and threatened the southern part of Mali, including the capital of
Bamako.

French President Francois Hollande said that although the intervention had
halted the rebels' southward advance, his country's mission was not over.

According to French broadcaster RFI, France's military engagement in Mali
and possible further steps to stabilize the country are expected to be
discussed at Monday's meeting.

The French government has urged the UN Security Council to speed up the
deployment of a 3,300-strong African intervention force, which is to back the
Malian army's operation to retake northern Mali.

The military intervention plan was drawn up out of fear that northern Mali could
become a safe haven for terrorism and drug- and human-trafficking.

Late last year, the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of the force
to restore Mali's territorial integrity and constitutional rule. But before the
eruption of hostilities last week, no offensive into the northern part of the
country was expected before September.

In Paris, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius confirmed Sunday that
Algeria has allowed French forces to use its airspace for military operations in
Mali.

"Algeria has authorized unlimited access to fly over its territory, for which I
thank the Algerian authorities," Fabius said.

"We have regular talks with Algeria," he said, adding that the two sides are in
discussion to make sure that "if the African troops move to the north, the
Algerians would have to close their border."

French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also confirmed that four French
Rafale fighter jets bombed Islamist rebels' position near the northern Malian
town of Gao on Sunday, saying the armed Islamic groups' training camps and
logistical depots were destroyed.

According to military observers, the airstrikes marked a turning point of
France's military operation in Mali. Before Sunday's airstrikes, the French
forces had particularly taken action in central Mali to prevent Islamist forces
from pushing forward to the south of the country.

Speaking on the RTL radio, Fabius said France's military operation had
achieved the objective of stopping the rebel groups' advance.

France's intervention in Mali has been backed by the European Union and the
United States, while Britain is providing logistical support in the form of
transport planes.

[Source: Xinhua, United Nations and Paris, 13Jan13]

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